The Ringed Plover is a small, rotund wader. It is brownish grey above and whitish below. It has a orange bill, tipped with black, orange legs and a black- and-white pattern on its head and breast. In flight, it shows a broad, white wing-stripe.

Size

Length: 18-20cm
Wingspan: 48-57cm
Weight: 55-75g

Population

UK breeding: 5,400 pairs
UK wintering: 43,000 birds
Lindisfarne NNR breeding: 30 pairs
Lindisfarne NNR wintering: 1000 birds
Lindisfarne NNR passage: 3,500 birds

Red Listed - Ringed Plovers were moved from amber to red listed in the UK in 2015, owing to steep declines in wintering numbers over the last 30 years. Breeding numbers have also decreased by as much as 65% during the same time period

Distribution: Ringed Plovers are resident; breeding and wintering around most shores of the UK. In winter the breeding population is bolstered by birds from Europe choosing the relatively mild UK climate to feed throughout the cold months. Large numbers can occasionally be seen when birds from as far as Greenland and Canada move through every spring and autumn on migration using places such as Lindisfarne NNR to regroup and refuel.

Habitat and behaviour: Ringed Plovers lay eggs in small scrapes on sand and shingle around the coast of the UK, but they have also now begun breeding inland in sand and gravel pits and former industrial sites. They are vulnerable to disturbance relying heavily on camouflage for successful breeding and so prefer less disturbed beaches or areas without public access. If breeding ringed plovers are disturbed near the nest they can entice the predator away in a novel way – they pretend to be injured. The adult will flap along the ground as if it has a broken wing and run away from the nest. A predator such as a fox (or an inquisitive human) will follow the adult away from the nest. Once far enough away, the adult flies off and will only return to the nest when danger has past.

Lindisfarne NNR is the most important area in the North-East for these diminutive birds; holding a significant proportion of the breeding population and entertaining approx 1000 birds throughout winter along with thousands of birds during migration periods. One of the main causes of the declines is human and dog disturbance as pressure along the coast has increased. As part of Lindisfarne NNR Shorebird Protection Scheme a number of bird refuge areas are put in place to aid feeding, roosting and breeding attempts; but we still need your help to halt the declines.

How can you help?

Read at all signage when entering the Reserve and adhere to any seasonal restrictions in place.
If walking on the Reserve, look for dog zonation signs.
Walk along the wet sand below the tide line to avoid breeding areas during late March – early August.
Give feeding and roosting birds plenty of space.
Take all litter away with you – anything left behind can cause death and injury to shorebirds and marine wildlife.

More info